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U.S. public vehicle records

Ford C-MAX ENERGI problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

137 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

37,750 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 to 2017 model years. Data snapshot: . 94 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 52 of 137 complaints (38.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues2719.7%
Steering behavior1913.9%
Braking behavior1410.2%
Transmission and shifting85.8%
Engine operation32.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
52
Steering
18
Power Train
16
Unknown Or Other
12
Structure:Body
11
Back Over Prevention
10
Engine
9
Fuel/Propulsion System
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System52
Steering18
Power Train16
Unknown Or Other12
Structure:Body11
Back Over Prevention10
Engine9
Fuel/Propulsion System8

Electrical System: 52; Steering: 18; Power Train: 16; Unknown Or Other: 12; Structure:Body: 11; Back Over Prevention: 10; Engine: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
30
25,000 to 49,999
28
50,000 to 74,999
17
75,000 to 99,999
9
100,000 to 149,999
7
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00030
25,000 to 49,99928
50,000 to 74,99917
75,000 to 99,9999
100,000 to 149,9997
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 30; 25,000 to 49,999: 28; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 3

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 43 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2014
7
2015
5
2016
18
2017
20
2018
17
2019
20
2020
6
2021
7
2022
12
2023
10
2024
3
2025
6
2026
6
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20147
20155
201618
201720
201817
201920
20206
20217
202212
202310
20243
20256
20266

2014: 7; 2015: 5; 2016: 18; 2017: 20; 2018: 17; 2019: 20; 2020: 6; 2021: 7; 2022: 12; 2023: 10; 2024: 3; 2025: 6; 2026: 6

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 27 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10610924 · 2014-07-16 (July 16, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX PREMIUM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REPAIRS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V237000 (AIR BAGS) WERE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED CAUSING THE PHONE SYSTEM TO ONLY ALLOW INCOMING CALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 25,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10610924 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10863585 · 2016-05-06 (May 6, 2016)

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, SOMEWHAT NORMALLY ON LONG CAR RIDES(NORMALLY ON THE HIGHWAY) THE CAR HAS A ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING THE CAR TO USE UP ALL THE EV MILES IT HAS STORED. MEAN WHILE THE CAR STARTS TO SMELL LIKE BURNING ELECTRICAL, NO SMOKE IS SEEN BUT SMELL IS THERE. WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AFTER THE ACCIDENTS , THE CAR GOES BACK TO NORMAL. THESE ACCIDENTS HAS HAPPEN OVER 10 TIMES, OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS. WE HAVE TOKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND NOTHING GETS FIXED. I THINK ALL THAT IS DONE IT RESETTING THE EL…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10863585 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10568796 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,512. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,512 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568796 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10608322 · 2014-07-05 (July 5, 2014)

BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND POWER STEERING FAILED. WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. I STOPPED DRIVING IMMEDIATELY AND CALLED LOCAL FORD DEALER SERVICE. THEY SUGGESTED RESTARTING THE CAR TO SEE IF STEERING RESUMED AND IT DID. THEY OFFERED A FREE TOW WHICH I DECLINED WHEN I SAW I HAD NON POWER STEERING IF NEEDED. DEALER CLOSE BY AND I DROVE AT VERY LOW SPEED. THREE DAYS LATER THE CAR REPAIR WAS COMPLETED (JULY 4TH WEEKEND). THE WORK ON THE INVOICE WAS "TRACE AND REPLACE POWER STEERING GEAR SET ALIGNMENT WITH PART# 1 CV6Z*3504*JE GEAR ASY - STEERI…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,854 miles reported. Look up ODI 10608322 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10693422 · 2015-03-10 (March 10, 2015)

PARKED. STARTED CAR, PUT IN REVERSE. CAR SURGED BACKWARD AT A VERY FAST SPEED. LUCKILY I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. 2ND INCIDENT 2-27-15. PULLING INTO PARKING PLACE. APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH. REMOVED FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR TO APPLY BRAKE. CAR SURGED FORWARD AT A VERY FAST SPEED AND HIT A CEMENT/METAL POLE AT THE FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE. LUCKY IT WASN'T A PERSON OR ANOTHER CAR. DEALER SAYS THEY CHECKED CAR AND NO PROBLEMS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 49,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10693422 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11024878 · 2017-09-21 (September 21, 2017)

UPON BRAKING, THE CAR HAS LURCHED FORWARD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, ALMOST REAR ENDING OTHER CARS, HAPPENS IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, ROAD SURFACES, INTERMITTENT BUT HAPPENS PROBABLY AT LEAST 3 TIMES PER WEEK. ALSO, WHEN STOPPED AND ACCELERATING, THE CAR HAS A HESITATION ISSUE LIKE NO FUEL GETS TO IT FOR A MOMENT AND THAT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK AS WELL AS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11024878 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10949880 · 2017-02-06 (February 6, 2017)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE STOP VEHICLE NOW INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND SLOWED TO A STOP WITHIN 200 YARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,163. UPDATED 05/16/17*LJ UPDATED 05/26/2017 *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 104,163 miles reported. Look up ODI 10949880 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11405595 · 2021-03-30 (March 30, 2021)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BEARING FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PERFORMED HIS OWN INSPECTION AND NOTICED THE BEARING HAD CREATED A HOLE IN THE TR…

Owner-reported narrative. 152,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11405595 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10906166 · 2016-09-13 (September 13, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD C-MAX ENERGI HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RODS AND PISTONS FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. .....UPDATED 10/13/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER REQUEST…

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10906166 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11064444 · 2018-01-23 (January 23, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD C-MAX ENERGI. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE "STOP SAFELY NOW" MESSAGE APPEARED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ALHAMBRA FORD IN ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE BROUGHT IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064444 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2013
1
2014
0
2015
0
2016
0
2017
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20131
20140
20150
20160
20170

2013: 1; 2014: 0; 2015: 0; 2016: 0; 2017: 0

Year-by-year records

Ford C-MAX ENERGI model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
2013501Not available
2014300-1
20151500
20163200
20171000